Seven-game winning streaks are not to be sniffed at, but it is hard to get a proper sense of where England are in the international pecking order from their post-World Cup displays. Italy are not at their strongest, but they should provide a reality check for Roy Hodgson tomorrow night in Turin. In the run-up to Euro 2016, the friendly matches will become more significant than the qualifiers.

Hodgson has a reputation as being a conservative coach, a man in thrall to 4-4-2. It has never been true. At club and international level he has switched systems and on Friday